Dropped Orissa Ministers taken aback

Bhubaneswar, May 16 (UNI) All the four BJD Ministers dropped tonight by Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik were taken aback by the swift move of their leader.

Senior cabinet Minister Damodar Rout holding the Panchayat Raj and Culture protfolio was summoned to the Chief Minister's office at the state secretariat, a minute before Mr Patnaik announced the dropping of four ministers from his cabinet.

Mr Rout was seen rushing to the Chief Minister's office along with State Agriculture Minister Surendra Nath Nayak, avoiding the media at the third floor of the state secretariat.

A few minutes later, he came out of the Chief Minister's office and left the secretariat without talking to the newsmen. Soon after he left, Mr Patnaik appeared before the press and announced the reshuffle, in which Mr Rout, along with three other Ministers were dropped.

Earlier, the Chief Minister also summoned Minister of state for Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Development Balabhadra Maji when he was sitting in his chamber.

He and the School and Mass Education Minister Nagendra Pradhan was surprised when the Chief Minister asked them to tender their resignation.

State Health and Family Welfare Minister Bijayashree Routray was shocked as he was out of the state capital, attending an official function in his constituency.

Mr Routray cut short his programme and returned to the state capital.

Mr Rout was the only Minister available for his reaction on the move of the Chief Minister. Contacted by newsmen, he said, he had to tender his resignation as the Chief Minister desired so. What has come as a blow to him is that one of his arch rival, Bishnu Das has been inducted into the cabinet.

Mr Rout, who initially refused to give his comment, later said perhaps the Chief Minister wanted some more efficient people in his ministry.

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